Thursday, 30 April 2009

The Chapman Family. Astoundingly intelligent, judging, you-appear-to-have-no-knowledge-of-this-issue-so-please-kindly-fuck-off, cynical, forboding, yet really fucking enjoyable and endorphine producing rock. If you haven't had your latest news update then don't bother. Get these songs in your ears. Pretend that the knock at your front door isn't the apocalypse coming to take you. It probably is. Hide.

Kids is seriously going to make you assume that either you or society have failed. In actuality, it is both. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But somehow out of this massive let-down a band can create such a song as to create a nervous feeling as to make you await Jon Snow at 7pm just to affirm it all. But like Jon, The Chapman Family are telling you like it is in a way that indicates that a snazzy tie and socks combo and grilling a politician, or in the case of The Chapman Family an unsettlingly accurate account of the state of things packaged as a hook-line-and-sinker of a rollicking great song, might, might, MIGHT somehow change it all.

As a band that have come from my hometown, I am not so much biased, as we have produced a fair few indie bands over the years, but completely reassured and inspired.

So seeing The Chapman Family at Empire in Middlesbrough, the venue I see as my second living room -- it really is that familiar -- was a joy. A scary amount of feedback and the general problem with that venue of late, of the destruction of everyone's ability to enjoy a future free of tinnitus, hampered what would have been a truly proud moment for everyone from Teesside. Yet it did not deter the audience or the band from really enjoying a another, obviously frantic performance that The Chapman Family have become reliable for.

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

The return of a much loved band in our apartment-hold. Brimming with nostalgia; personal, musical, cultural and historical. Camera Obscura are so endearing, smile-enducing and humble. A band that have never shook that ever so slightly awkward feeling. You can see they love what they do musically but still worry as to how it will be received. It is not something that you see often -- if ever -- in this cock-sure industry.

So to see the Scottish band return to the live circuit again is delightful. It was a joy to see them play their new material last week, Tuesday 21st April, at the Academy. A venue I feel is perfect for the band. Dark, warm; enclosed in the palm of great big firm, yet reassuring hands. An audience that waiting verging on impatiently, but only due to the great sense of anticipation at sharing the air with a well-loved band of such likable people. My posse and I were actually impatient. We usually are. (But especially after the support act, not amusing.)

And not without reason. With teasers of new material surfacing it certainly gave the feeling that the wait would be worth it all. Their new album is certain to accompany the summer with no difficulty whatsoever. A genuine perfect match. Jangly, glorious and divinely orchestrated. To hear the a Camera Obscura track is to almost embark on an adventure that will surely deliver nothing but twee perfection.

With a couple of fluffs for good measure there is no way not to fall in love with Camera Obscura a little bit more for each one.

A cathartic appearance from a song that I did not expect to hear, and was quite choked to having to stand through publicly.

Monday, 27 April 2009

..just when I'm a little more than utterly despondant. A Monday you'd rather leave behind. Wishing your life away looking forward to time spent with a loved one. Dreams and aspirations that must be kept secret. Trying to make the best of something that just won't do.

This beautiful remix I've had floating around for a while has just reminded me of the hope of a life that I'm working so hard for and keeping ambition in mind it could all still fall into place.

Thursday, 16 April 2009

Once introduced and given a little bit of an education on it, you cannot deny the power of grime.

I've never wanted to share Pop Cultureddd with anyone before. To be honest, I don't like sharing, full stop. But my other, infinitely better, half is fairly knowledgeable on the grime scene and I've been trying to cajole him into doing an occasional feature post.

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Pleasantly bowled over. I'd not seen The Young Knives for a long while. Possibly three years. I'm not sure. But I've forgotten how much I enjoy them. Witty, roaring, slick and yelping. I have not been to a gig in a long time that made me grin with surprise and delight.

On the rounds of promoting their third album The Young Knives seemed fairly confused to have ended up in Darlington. And as the third band I have seen in this venue this year, they were not alone in this reaction. But Darlington should be really proud to boast this venue. Inside Out is wicked and the organisers of this night Amplified! are making great impressions. Hopefully The Young Knives benefited from the experience.

The geek chic rockers seemed to revel in the opportunity to showcase their new material which appeared to widely, warmly received. It is always a little bit nervey, enough to induce a jippy tummy. But The Young Knives lived up to the challenge and used the opportunity to indulge the audience further in their new abundant pride. If you get chance, go support your Young Knives, reclaim that great feeling that they automatically induce.

There is something wonderful about that happy sense of excitable familiarity.

Monday, 13 April 2009

Sorry about the shitness of the video and please do not succumb to their advertisments. I won't be able to sleep if you do. And if I don't sleep then I'll die in 11 days or something. Thus, no more Pop Cultureddd.

Thursday, 2 April 2009

I had been complaining that no-one had really picked up on the terrific single, Alone by Dan Black, as a potentially cataclysmically awesome song to remix for quite a while. I suppose somewhere in the ether my upsets resonated.

The boyfriend named dropped, again, but I don't mind this remix. Maybe it is a grower. But right now I have a feeling in my waters that more could extrapolated from this song.